Indian coaches are not good enough: Ric Charlesworth

“I think India needs a foreign expert. I can say it from my experience that Indian coaches are not good enough to fulfil the requirements of modern hockey,” Charlesworth was quoted as saying by PTI.

Ric Charlesworth

Charlesworth’s reacted after fellow Australian Michael Nobbs was reportedly sacked as India’s chief coach because of non-performance. Nobbs, who took charge in 2011, was offered a five-year contract, but his India soujourn ended on a bitter note within two years.

Nobbs, thus became the fourth foreign coach to be shown the door before completing his tenure. Before Nobbs, Spaniard Jose Barsa, Charlesworth and Germany’s Gerhard Rach coached the Indian side but were pushed out due to several issues.

Charlesworth expressed surprise over India’s decision to select Nobbs over Roelant Oltmans for the chief coach’s post. “There are many questions. Firstly, if I was given a choice between Oltmans and Nobbs, I would have chosen Oltmans who is more experienced,” he said.

“Why did they choose Nobbs then? And if he was made coach, he should have been given the support he needed,” said Charlesworth, the current Australian team coach.

Charlesworth felt that if the country wants to regain its past glory, India should have a long-term planning in place. “I think it is not easy to work without support. What Indian hockey needs at the moment is a good structure.

“They must have long-term plans. India must provide whatever support a coach needs, and the expectations should also should be realistic,” he said.